Chipworks: Inside Analog Devices’ New MEMS Strategy

Analog Devices has recently changed their MEMS strategy. Since the introduction of the ADXL50 in 1991, Analog has built their MEMS inertial sensors using their iMEMS technology, which integrated the micromechanical structures and ASIC circuitry on a single die. The development of this technology culminated, in some respects, with the ADXL330, which was launched in 2006. The ADXL330 provided three sense axes in a 4 mm × 4 mm × 1.45 mm LFCSP package. An X-ray of the ADXL330 package, which contains a single integrated chip, is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1 ADXL330 Package X-Ray

Figure 2 shows that the ADX330 MEMS sensor was fabricated as a single chip, with the MEMS structure in the centre of the die, beneath a hermetic cap, and the ASIC circuitry around the outside edge. The ASIC circuitry uses a single metal, single poly 3 µm BiCMOS process, while the MEMS is fabricated using three layers of polysilicon, with the top 4 µm thick poly 3 being used to form the MEMS structures, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2 Decapsulated ADXL330 Chip

Figure 3 ADXL330 MEMS Structures

The integration of BiCMOS and MEMS process technology onto a single die represented a significant technological achievement; however, the price of this integration was significant limitation on the complexity of the circuitry available to device designers, and limitations on the range of MEMS processing possible.

After more than twenty years, Analog has decided to abandon their integrated iMEMS technology, and adopt the more common strategy of using a separate MEMS die and ASIC die wire bonded together in a single package. The ADXL345 represents one of the first examples of Analog’s new strategy.

Figure 4 shows an X-ray of the ADXL345 3 mm × 5 mm × 1 mm LGA package. The X-ray clearly shows the presence of a separate ASIC die and MEMS die, with a hermetic cap. The internal structure of the device is more clearly seen in the SEM micrograph of the decapsulated device, Figure 5.

Figure 4 ADXL345 Package X-Ray

Figure 5 Decapsulated ADXL345 MEMS and ASIC Die

Abandoning their integrated iMEMS technology brings a number of benefits for Analog Devices. It allows the use of more advanced process technology in the ASIC, thus enabling greater functionality, including SPI and I2C digital outputs. It also allows them to more easily adopt a foundry strategy, with the possibility of separate foundries for the MEMS and ASIC die. Apparently, Analog has already started using TSMC to provide some MEMS foundry services.

Chipworks completed a full analysis of the ADXL330 in 2006. We are presently undertaking a detailed analysis of the ADXL345, which will include information on the process used to fabricate the MEMS and ASIC dies, plus a discussion of the MEMS architecture. For further information, please contact the author.